Best TV Family Sitcoms of the ’90s, Ranked
Do you ever miss the laughter of an audience filling the room from your TV? Television now focuses on realism and on letting audiences see which moments deserve which responses. Rarely, if ever, do audiences experience over-the-top staged performances that were taped for a live audience. The family sitcom used to be a staple of network television. While elements of that still exist today, they’re few and far between as the sitcom has now veered towards single-camera observational comedy.
Updated May 16, 2023 If you love ’90s sitcoms, you’ll be thrilled to know that this list has been updated with additional content from Amira Abdel-Fadil.
The 1990s were full of fun, silly, escapist entertainment. The series portrayed suburban life and exuded an upbeat optimism that seems largely absent from modern television today. For viewers who remember a simpler time, Friday nights at home to watch laugh-out-loud comedy or tuning in early, here’s a list of the best family sitcoms of the 1990s.
13 Sabrina, the teenage witch
In Sabrina, the teenage witchMelissa Joan Hart won the hearts of millions when she played the role of Sabrina Spellman, a teenager who finds out she’s a witch on her sixteenth birthday. She and her cat Salem, voiced by Nick Bakay, who used to be a witch but turned into a cat after attempting world domination, work together in their new roles. The series was written more lightheartedly than the original comic book series it is based on, and shares similarities with that bewitched Series from the 60s. The series ran for seven seasons from 1996 to 2003 and spawned the most recent adaptation entitled ” Chilling Adventures of Sabrinaa more faithful adaptation of the comic series.
12 Married with children
Married with children ran from 1987 to 1997. It tells the story of Al Bundy, a working-class father who is both financially troubled and married to a greedy woman. In addition, he has two troublesome children to take care of. The series addresses the breakdown of certain nuclear families with a humorous and bold approach that sets it apart from other sitcoms of the era. It reflects reality and is impressive in the way it does it. Married with children is timeless, with infinitely memorable characters. The show has garnered 7 Primetime Emmys.
11 sister sister
Celebrating the debut of twins Tia and Tamara Mowry, sister sister aired in 1994, it is about the sisterly love between twins and the unbreakable bond they share. The series follows the lives of the once separated twins who reunite as teenagers. The sitcom lasted six seasons and catapulted the careers of the Mowry twins, who went on to star in similar shows and films about being twins, such as the popular tween movies Pull out on Disney Channel.
10 Kenan & Kel
Following the popular Nickelodeon sketch comedy show All thatKenan Thompson and co-star Kel Mitchell went their own way as a comedic duo on their self-titled show Kenan & Kel. Thompson became a household name and later became part of Saturday night live pour. Kenan & Kel won Favorite Show at the 1998 Kids’ Choice Awards and ran for four seasons from 1996 to 2000. After the final season, the film received a sequel. Two heads are better than none.
9 The nanny
Starring fashion icon Fran Drescher, The nanny aired in 1993 and ended in 1999. Desperate for a job, Fran is trying to sell cosmetics to Maxwell Sheffield, played by Charles Shaughnessy, a wealthy Broadway producer. He hires her as a nanny for his three children and she quickly convinces them. Loved for its gags and pop culture references, unforgettable performances by Drescher and co-star Daniel Davis, who plays the butler Niles, and all of Drescher’s unforgettable outfits. The nanny still captures the hearts of audiences today. There have been talks of a reboot and discussions about who will reclaim the role of nanny.
8th Frasier
Frasier ran from 1993 to 2004 and tells the story of Dr. Frasier Crane, a multifaceted therapist moving from Boston to Seattle to start a new chapter in his life with his father. He works as a radio psychiatrist in Seattle, but his personal life is far from perfect as he struggles with issues with his father, brother, friends and co-workers.
The film is intelligently written, with actors who narrate their lines perfectly, so you have to pay attention to every little detail. For many, it was a therapeutic sitcom that was very entertaining to watch. The show is one of the most Emmy-winning shows of all time. The series received 37 Primetime Emmy Awards, most of them for the show’s comedic value. Fraiser expected to return with a revival on Paramount+.
7 The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Based on the life of Will Smith, the series’ lead actor, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, started Smith’s acting career. After being bullied at a Philadelphia playground, Smith moves in with his aunt and uncle at their Bel-Air mansion. His street smarts clashing with their upper class life are the focus of the series. The show first aired in 1990 and eventually ended in 1996. There was also a cast reunion on HBO Max in 2020 and recently a dramatic remake of the title Bel Air premiered on Peacock in 2022.
6 boy meets world
boy meets world tells the story of middle school students Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, and her best friend Shawn Hunter, played by Rider Strong, and their life lessons as they grow up together. The show covered many profound topics and was progressive in television for the time. It first aired in 1993 and ended in 2000. The series is popular for its characters and valuable life lessons and remains popular today. It recently received a sequel titled girl meets world on Disney Channel, which aired from 2014 to 2017.
5 Friends
Friends Maybe it wasn’t specifically a show about family, but it was about how a group of friends can become a family. Ongoing from 1994 to 2004, Friends Considered one of the best television shows of all time, it constantly struggles to rank alongside her His field. Known for his eclectic sets, characters and romance novels, Friends is still popular with younger generations today. It has become a pop culture phenomenon and recently had a reunion special on May 27, 2021.
4 family matters
One of the top sitcoms that premiered in the late 80’s and ran until 1997. family matters remains one of the most influential sitcoms of all time. It tells the story of the Winslows and their life in Chicago. He’s best known for his character Steve Urkel, played by Jaleel White, an over-the-top nerd, but he’s also one of the most referenced and beloved characters in television history.
3 Full house
A show that never stops repeating is Full house. Known and loved by most Americans, the series is one of the heartiest family sitcoms ever produced. Bob Saget tells the story of the Tanner family after the widowed Danny Tanner and asks his brother-in-law and best friend to help him raise his three daughters. Known for its lessons for children, teens and adults, the series offers a good range of serious subjects and comedy. The show received a sequel titled fuller house which ran on Netflix from 2016 to 2020.
2 roseanne
premiere 1988, roseanne became a TV staple in the mid-’90s. The series focused on The Conners, a working-class family from Landford, Illinois. roseanne was a laughing comedy that wasn’t afraid to get serious either, tackling real-life issues like domestic violence, alcoholism and child neglect. Roseanne and Dan Conner were the ultimate TV parents every audience desires. Despite the last season being largely ignored, roseanne was a defining comedy of the 1990s.
Roseanne briefly returned as a revival in 2018 before being canceled due to star Roseanne Barr’s controversial tweet, but the series was reformatted The Connerswhat went on roseannes Legacy to show a modern working class American family. Audiences have really welcomed the return of this family as the series recently renewed for a sixth season.
1 The Wonderful Years
The Wonderful Years Maybe not a sitcom, but it was a comedy and drama that ran from 1988 to 1993. It focuses on the story of Kevin Arnold, a man in his 30s who reminisces about his teenage years when he was 12 to 17 years old. The plot deals with his family life, his friends and his fondest memories.
The sitcom is real in dealing with the thoughts and feelings that growing up brings. It will make you nostalgic with its attention to the simplest moments of the transition into adulthood as you sit back and reminisce about what it was like to be a teenager from someone else’s point of view. The Wonderful Years was one of the most requested home video shows by fans and was recently revived with a remake series on ABC.
